Modi, Gujarat, Gujaratis under attack of non-BJP parties in Maharahstra

Ahmedabad, 6 October 2014

Chhagan Bhujbal and NCP

Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal today today while speaking at Yavatmal in Maharashtra said Modi is gradually turning out to be the “PM of Gujarat” and wants to convert Mumbai into Ahmedabad.

“Modi is gradually emerging as the Prime Minister of Gujarat and wants to convert Mumbai into Ahmedabad. On what grounds is Modi claiming that Gujarat is ahead of Maharashtra?” Bhujbal said here during an election rally of NCP candidate Sandeep Bajoria.

At a public rally in Gondia yesterday, Modi had said like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where voters had given the BJP a full majority, Maharashtra could be the number one state in the country.

Responding to it, the NCP leader asked, “What does Modi want to convey by assuring development of Maharashtra in general and Mumbai in particular? Maharashtra is already number one state and hence there is no question of developing Mumbai on the lines of Ahmedabad.”

Targetting Gujarat Chief Minister Anandi Patel for inviting investors to invest in Gujarat during a programme in Mumbai, Bhujbal said, “How can it be justified that she invited industrialists from Mumbai to set up their businesses in Gujarat?”

On the Centre’s proposed bullet train project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, the former Maharashtra minister asked, “What is the use of starting a bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad? Instead, they can go for the Mumbai-New Delhi, New Delhi-Kolkata or New Delhi-Chennai routes.”

Reacting to Modi’s recent remarks that NCP chief Sharad Pawar chose the Rajya Sabha route and did not contest Lok Sabha polls as he was aware that the “ship (UPA government) was sinking”, Bhujbal challenged Modi to contest an election from Baramati constituency, the hometown of the former Union Agriculture Minister.

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Shiv Sena and Uddhav Thackeray

Speaking at Osmanabad in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday likened the ongoing poll campaign in Maharashtra by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet to an assault by Bijapur general Afzal Khan’s army on Shivaji’s dominion in the 17th century.

“What are they up to? First Modi comes to campaign, then his entire Cabinet team is campaigning for votes in Maharashtra. They are like the army of Afzal Khan trying to conquer this state,” Uddhav thundered at a huge public rally in the temple of town of Tulzapur.

He noted out that besides Modi, the home minister, external affairs minister, chief ministers and other top leaders were campaigning for the Maharashtra assembly elections scheduled for October 15.

The Sena chief alleged that their whole intention is “to break the state into pieces” in the name of bringing progress and development here.

“But, the people of Maharashtra will not tolerate such attempts. They (team Modi) will be made to bite the dust,” he asserted to applause from the people.

He pointed out that Afzal Khan too met a similar fate when he tried to break up the Maratha empire of Chhatrapati Shivaji.

“Do you want Maharashtra to be divided into many pieces? Then vote for BJP. Do you?” he asked the gathering, which roared back “No, No.”

Modi, during his campaign trail, is noted for his interactive connect with the crowds by asking similar questions and eliciting their responses.

Uddhav Thackeray (left) with Narendra Modi during the Lok Sabha election campaign in Mumbai earlier this year when the Shiv Sena and BJP were allies.

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Raj Thackeray and MNS

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked whether he was the Prime Minister of India or Chief Minister Gujarat.

He also questioned US President Barack Obama’s move to greet Modi in Gujarati language when the latter had arrived the White House to hold talks with the US administration.

“I was the first person to support Narendra Modi for his prime ministerial bid. I had thought he would change…. but he is not willing to talk of anything else but Gujarat. I appreciate Narendra Modi’s hard work in Gujarat… I also felt proud of his US visit. But what kind of message he is trying to send?” he said.

“The world should know him as the Prime Minister India,” he added.

The MNS chief also raised questions on government’s decision to of starting a high speed train service from Mumbai to Ahmedabad.

“Why will a Marathi person go to Ahmedabad? What is the hidden agenda behind starting such a service? Even after becoming Prime Minister of India, he behaves like Gujarat chief minister,” he said.

Assembly elections in Maharashtra is slated to be held in a single phase on October 15 whereas counting of votes will be done on October 19.

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Rane and Congress

Congress leader Narayan Rane said Gujaratis should stick to busieness and should not dabble in politics. Speaking at Karmad while addressing campaign rally of Congress party, Rane said Modi is taking revenge of the fact that Gujarat didn’t get Mumbai. Modi took away three sections of Mumbai based Reserve Bank to Delhi. He also took away our Coastal Police academy out of Maharashtra.

Rane’s son and Congress candidate Nitesh Rane said: Gujarat Chief Minister comes and gives a speech in Gujarati in our Mumbai! Will she dare to do this in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka?

He further said: In Mumbai, out of 36 constituencies, 13 have maximum Gujarati voters! This is 2014, imagine what happens in 2019? Aur pilao in Dhoklo ko doodh.

He said: Thackeray brothers are now talking on Gujju terrorism, but they are solely responsible for bringing this ‘Ghaan’ in Marathi Manoos’s life! Ata bombla!